Time controlled switch



Oct. 18, 1932. J. w. BELT 1,882,742

TIME CONTROLLED SWITCH Filed Jan. 18. 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 1\\\\\\IllI/Ill 4 I0seph 11. 3612,

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Patented Oct. 18, 1932 JOSEPH W. BELT, OF WEST CHESTER, PENNSYLVANIATIME CONTROLLED SWITCH Application filed January 18, 1930. Serial No.421,861.

This invention relates to electric time switches, and more particularlyto such switches as are used in connection with the burners of heatingplants.

16 The principal ob]ect of the invention is to provide a switch of thischaracter in which the electric current will be turned on for a periodcovering a certain percentage of each hour, but which period will bedivided into 10 several equal parts, distributed throughout the hour.

A further object is to provide a switch of this character wherein the Onand Oil periods may be adjusted'to suit the conditions.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the followingdescription when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. I

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevation of a portion of a clock equipped with thecircuit closer.

Figure 2 is an elevation of the rotatable contact plate located behindthe dial, with the fiber plate carrying said contact plate.

Figure 3 is a sectional View on the line 33 of Figure 1, takenlongitudinally of one of the slots in the clock dial.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view on the "'3 line &4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is an elevation of a portion of a clock, wherein the three wiresystem is used.

Figure 6 is an elevation of the rotatable plateshowing the contactmembers, and their connections. 7

Referring particularly to the accompanying drawings 10 represents thecabinet of a clock, which has the dial 11, provided with the centralcircularopening 12, and behind which is located the sheet of insulation13. This sheet'of insulation has the central opening 14:, for the arborsof the hour and minute hands 15 and 16, of the clock, the openings 17and 18, for the winding stems of the striker and movement of the clock,and the arcuate slots 19, for a purpose which will presently appearherein. Mounted on the arbors of the clock is a fiber disk 20, which hasa handle 21 extending outwardly through the side of the cabinet. Securedto the outer face of the fiber disk is a metal plate 23, preferably ofbrass, having the three radiating segmental portions 24. The disk 20 issolocated, and the metal disk or plate, is so positioned on the fiberdisk, that arcuate portions of the face of the plate 23 will appearthrough the arcua'Le slots 19, as clearly seen in Figure 1. Attached tothe side wall of the clock cabinet, adjacent the slot through which thehandie 21 projects, is a plate 25, over which the handle 21 moves, saidplate having markings thereon indicating the amount of time the switchis to be closed.

Secured to the minute hand 16, in position to wipe along the faces ofthe portions of the plate 23, which are exposed through the slots, 19,is the contact brush 26. In one side of the cabinet of the clock aresecuredthe electric terminals 27 and 28, the former of which isconnected or grounded on the metal frame of the clock movement, to bringthe hand 16 into the circuit, while the other terminal is connected withthe metal plate 23, by means of the wire 29. Other wires 30 and 31 areconnected with the terminals 27 and 28, and with any suitable source ofelectric current, not shown, and in which circuit is also arranged thevalve controlling the flow of oil to the burner of the heating system,but not shown.

As shown in the accompanying drawings, the arcuate openings 19 are eachof a length equal to the distance between three adjacent numerals on theclock dial, such distance representing the period of time in which theminute hand ravels from one numeral to the third numeral therefrom,around the dial, which in the present instance is ten (10) minutes.During this period, the brush 26 contacts, successively, as the hand 16traverses the dial, with each portion of the metal plate 23 which isexposed through the slot 19, and completes the circuit which causes theoperation of the mechanism for opening the burner. At the expiration ofthis period of contact, the brush passes from the metal plate onto theface of the insulated sheet 13, remaining in contact therewith, so as tomaintain the circuit open, and the burner ex- 10a minutes of each hour.

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site one of said numerals.

tinguished, until the brush drops through the next slot 19, into contactwith the plate 23 thereunder, thus putting the burner in operationagain. It will be noted that there are three of these slots 19.

Assuming that the operator desires the heating system to be in operationfor 25% 0f the twenty-four hours, and off for the remainder, or 75%.This would meanthat the burners would be on for fifteen minutes of eachhour, and extinguished for forty-five The operator moves the handle 21until it is opposite the numeral 25, which represents twenty-fivepercent of the twenty-four hours. This rotates the members 20 and 23 toexpose such portions of the metal plate 23, through the three slots 19,as will total'twenty-five percent, or onefourth of the path of theminute hand 16 of the clock, or a total of fifteen minutes of each hour.Movement of the handle 21, to the numeral 50, on the plate 25, willrotate the metal plate 23 into position where the sum of the portionsexposed through the three slots 19 will total one-half an hour, or 50%of the hour. On the other hand, the handle may be moved to the 15, sothat the plate 23 will be exposed to represent a period of 15% of anhour. Thus the operator can set the clock carried device to govern theperiod at which the burner will be on, so that the greatest efiiciency,with the highest economy, will result.

The foregoing represents the system where two wires are used, and isshown in Figures 1 to 4, inclusive. When, however, a three wire systemis used, the form of the device, shown in Figures 5 and 6 is employed.

In the form shown in Figures 5 and 6, the clock dial 30 is providedwiththe arcuate slots 31, similar to those of the other form, and arrangedin the same positions. Mounted to rotate behind the dial is a fiber diskor plate 32, having a handle 33 extending out through the side of theclock cabinet 34, as in the other form, to permit rotation of saidplate. Secured to the outer face of the dial 30, adjacent one end ofeach of the slots 31, and transversely thereof, is a short wire contactmember 35, the same being connected, at

the back of the dial, by the wire 36, which leads to the binding post37. Similar wires 38 aresecured on the outer face of the disk 32, atregularly spaced intervals, and so positioned as to be exposed atdifferent points along theslots 31. Each slot 31 is of a length equal tothe distance between two of the hour numerals of the dial, and marked onthe face of the dial, at one side of the slot, are numerals from 1 to10, representing a ten minutes space on the dial, it being understoodthat the disk or plate 32 may be rotated to position each of its contactwires 38 oppo- These numerals represent minutes, and the distancebetween one of the contacts 35, and the adjacent contact 38, representsthe number of minutes between engagement of one by the hand carriedbrush 26, and engagement of the other by said brush.

The contacts 38 are connected similarly to the contacts 35, by means ofthe wire 39, which wire leads to, and is connected with the bindingterminal 40. A wire 41 leads from the binding terminal 42, andconstitutes the third, orcommon return wire of this three wire system.Connected respectively to the terminals 37, 42, and 40, are the conduits43, 44, and 45, which lead to the mechanism to be operated, but which isnot shown.

It will be understood that, in one instance the wire 43 and 44, form onecircuit, to produce the operatlon of the desired mechanism, while inanother instance, the wire 45, and

the wire 44, form another circuit, to produce a different operation ofthe same mechanism, although these two circuits may operate twodifferent mechanisms, if desired.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination with a clock having a dial provided with a centralopening, an insulated plate fixedly supported behind said dial andhaving a series of arcuate slots visible through said dial opening, ascale mounted on a side of the clock, an insulated plate on which ismounted a segmental metal plate rotatably mounted behind said slottedplate and having a handle extending through a side of the clock andarranged to traverse saidl scale, and a wiping contact supported by theminute hand of the clock for wiping over the face of said insulatedplate, and over the metal plate through said slots.

' 2. The combination with a clock having a dial provided with a centralopening, an insulating plate behind the dial and having openingstherein, an insulated disk rotatable behind said insulating plate,contact members on the disk exposed through said plate openings, saiddisk being arranged to be moved to dispose the contacts thereof atdifferent points with relation to the plate openings, and circuitclosing means for successively engaging said contacts. In testimonywhereof, I aflix my signature.

JOSEPH W. BELT.

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